A Republican oil man who had previously considered a primary run against U.S. Sen. Pete Domenici told a group of 60 people in the
That means U.S. Rep. Heather Wilson will have a primary battle regardless of whether U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce decides to jump into the race for the open Senate seat.
Spiro G. Vassilopoulos made the formal announcement at a pig roast, the Alamogordo Daily News is reporting.
“I will begin my campaign this coming January,” the newspaper quoted him as saying. “And I feel my only serious competition will be Stevan Pearce, if he decides to run for the position. Pearce is a fellow oil man and someone I consider to be intellectually honest. I have great admiration for his abilities.”
Vassilopoulos is 54 and CEO and part-owner of Port Westward LNG, the newspaper reported. He has never held a political office.
He publicly considered running against Domenici several months ago, but talk of his potential candidacy died down until news last week that Domenici would not seek another term.
According to CQMoneyLine, Vassilopoulos hasn’t given a federal campaign contribution since 1993, when he gave $250 to Domenici and $1,000 to a Democratic Senate candidate in